Joanne's Easy Mac 'n' Cheese

Highlighted in a special Mother's Day article featuring recipes from the moms of Woman's Day staffers, this dish isn't your typical mac 'n' cheese. Instead of a standard cheese sauce, sour cream and extra-sharp Cheddar are folded in at intervals to bind it together, giving it a texture that's delightfully crispy, rather than gooey.

Ingredients

Directions

Heat oven to 400°F. Cook the pasta for half the time recommended on package directions; drain.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the mustard, 1 cup of the sour cream, and 1⁄2 tsp each salt and pepper. Fold in the onion and 1 cup of the Cheddar.

Add the pasta to the bowl and toss to coat. Transfer the pasta mixture to a shallow 3-qt or 9 x 13-in. baking dish and bake until beginning to brown, 15 to 20 minutes.

Remove the baking dish from the oven and fold in the remaining cup of Cheddar and 1⁄4 cup sour cream. Return to the oven and bake until golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve with freshly cracked pepper.